In Egypt, the Israelites WORKED and they WORKED HARD… but they never profited from their work because they were slaves… their WORK only benefited their taskmasters. But, when God led them to the Promised Land this is what He offered them:
“Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied” – Deuteronomy 6:10-11 (NAS)
Yes, God promised to give them things that they did not WORK for. There is one detail, though, that you must understand about this proposition. Truly, the Israelites did not have to WORK to receive the PROMISE…but they did have to FIGHT. God told the Israelites that they would have to fight and conquer the Canaanites in order to receive the benefits of the Promised Land.
Likewise, in the Christian life, we don’t have to WORK for our salvation. We receive God’s Promises through the provision of His Grace. But, make no mistake, there is a battle that we must FIGHT to apprehend all that God has promised to give us. Grace does not call us to a life of leisure and ease…it gives us strength for the battle.
You don’t have to WORK to receive God’s Promises…but you do have to FIGHT!
1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 1:18 (NIV)
I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well.
